Amber alert- Missing 5 year old in Florida

[SydneyBristow]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,490466,00.html

Amber Alert Issued in Florida for Missing Little Girl, 5

Tuesday , February 10, 2009

Authorities in northeast Florida are hunting for a little girl who disappeared early Tuesday morning, using dogs in their search and interviewing anyone who might know what happened to her.

An Amber Alert was issued for Haleigh Cummings, 5, who lives with her father and his girlfriend in Putnam County.

Haleigh was reported missing after her father's girlfriend discovered the child wasn't in her bed about 3:30 a.m., police said.

The woman told police that the door to the home was not locked at the time, Nettles said.

Sgt. Jason Nettles of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department told FOXNews.com that Haleigh is 5, clearing up earlier conflicting reports.

He said he didn't have information on whether or not the little girl's father or his girlfriend were suspects in her disappearance.

"I don't know that for sure," he told FOXNews.com. He said he believed they were being questioned by police, along with others at the scene.

Several registered sex offenders reportedly live in the vicinity of the missing girl's home in Satsuma, Fla. Nettles said he couldn't confirm whether authorities were worried a sex offender might have abducted Haleigh.

"I don't think they've ruled anything out," he said.

He declined to comment on one report that put the number of registered sex offenders nearby at 25 because he said he didn't know how wide an area was being considered.

Haleigh is 3 feet tall with blond hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt.

Anyone with information about the girl is urged to contact the Putnam County Sheriff's Office at (386) 329-0800 or 911.

 

[MeghansMommy]

Oh my gosh, this is so sad. Prayers that she will be found safe and sound.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Poor baby - she must be so scared. I am praying for her safe return.

 

[EeyoreFan1]

Oh that is just terrible! She is in my prayers to return home safetly and unharmed!

 

[PKM]

Sending prayers and pixie dust for a quick, safe recovery of this little angel.

 

[PrincessBelle94]

Poor thing! This is so terrible. Prayers & PD going their way.

 

[rabx5]

Thank you for posting this- I spread the word.

I will keep that little sweety in my prayers for a safe return home.

 

[MsDisney23]

So very sad, sending many Prayer's

 

[SydneyBristow]

Bumping back to 1st page

 

[Mikelly1221]

I heard the Amber alert go out on the radio this morning. So sad-I hope she's found soon..safe and sound.

 

[fairykin]

Prayers left for this child being found safe.

 

[TennisGirl80]

Oh goodness - I really hope this baby comes home safe and sound, and the person that took her gets what he/she deserves.

 

[rparmfamily]

I hope she is found safe somewhere!

 

[Rora]

Oh no.. I hope this isn't going to end badly.

Thoughts and prayers for this sweet little girl!

 

[SydneyBristow]

http://www.wesh.com/news/18681356/detail.html

WESH.com


Amber Alert Issued For 5-Year-Old Girl

Girl Last Seen In Putnam County

POSTED: 11:08 am EST February 10, 2009
UPDATED: 9:03 am EST February 11, 2009

SATSUMA, Fla. -- An Amber Alert was issued for a 5-year-old Putnam County girl on Tuesday.
Video | Crime Tracker

Haleigh Cummings is 3 feet tall, weighs 39 pounds and has blond hair and brown eyes. She was last seen near Hermit's Cove in Satsuma.

Authorities set up a command post near Haleigh's home, and it was kept under surveillance overnight. A search effort will continue on Wednesday.
The girlfriend of Haleigh's father called 911 to report his daughter's disappearance.

Caller: I just woke up and my back door was all open, and I can't find my daughter.
Operator: Can't find what?
Caller: My daughter.
Operator: OK. When did you last see her?
Caller: We just like, you know, it was about 10 o'clock. She was sleeping.
Operator: OK. How old is your daughter?
Caller: She's 5.
Operator: OK. What was she last seen wearing, Ma'am?
Caller: She was in her pajamas. She was sleeping.
Operator: OK. All right, you said your back door was wide open?
Caller: Yes, with a brick. Like, there was a brick on the floor. Like, when I went to sleep, the door was not like that.
Operator: OK. Was your back door locked? Do you know?
Caller: Yes. That door always stays locked.
Father: I just got home from work. My 5-year-old daughter is gone. I need someone to be here now. I'm telling you, if I find whoever has my daughter before you all do, I'm killing him. I don't care. I'll spend the rest of my life in prison.
Operator: It's OK, sir. We got them on the way.

The call was made around 3 a.m. on Tuesday after the girl's father returned home from work and found her missing.

Authorities with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said they have not identified a suspect.
"We're not focusing on any person as a person of interest right now. It is still truly a whodunit, meaning whether it's an abduction or a homicide or if she just wandered out," Putnam County Sheriff's Office Maj. Gary Bowling said.

Authorities searched the St. Johns River with boats on Tuesday, as well as an aerial search of the area using helicopters.

Satsuma is just north of the Ocala National Forest, near Palatka.
Haleigh was last seen wearing a pink shirt and underwear.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Haleigh is asked to call the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office at 386-329-0808.

 

[SydneyBristow]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,490466,00.html

Police Question Father of Missing Florida Girl, 5

Wednesday, February 11, 2009





Investigators in northeast Florida questioned the father of a missing 5-year-old girl who his girlfriend says wasn't in her bed when they checked on her, police told FOXNews.com.

Putnam County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Jason Nettles said he didn't have information on whether or not Haleigh Cummings' father, Ronald Cummings, and girlfriend are suspects in her Tuesday disappearance.

"I don't know that for sure," he told FOXNews.com.

Both were interviewed Tuesday by authorities. The child lives with the couple in Putnam County, Fla.

"The girlfriend and the father are cooperating with police," Special Agent Steve Donaway of the Florida Dept of Law Enforcement told an afternoon news conference.

Investigators also were interviewing others in the case, according to Nettles — including sex offenders in the area.

Local and state authorities and the FBI searched Tuesday for Haleigh in neighbors' homes and vehicles leaving her neighborhood on the St. Johns River.

An Amber Alert was issued Tuesday for Haleigh, and authorities with dogs and ground search crews were hunting in the nearby river and woods for signs of the girl, who apparently disappeared before dawn.

"It could be an abduction. We're looking at it from all angles," Donaway said. Leads have been minimal, he said, and investigators are asking for the public's help.

Haleigh was reported missing after her father's girlfriend told police she discovered the child wasn't in her bed about 3 a.m. Cummings said his girlfriend was awake and frantic that Haleigh was missing from her bed.

The woman said the back door to the home was not locked at the time. Police found the door to the trailer unlocked when they arrived, but no sign of forced entry, according to Donaway.

Several registered sex offenders reportedly live in the vicinity of the missing girl's home in Satsuma, Fla. Donaway said they've all been identified, and either have been or will be interviewed by police.

Nettles said he couldn't confirm whether authorities were worried a sex offender might have abducted Haleigh.

"I don't think they've ruled anything out," he told FOXNews.com.

He declined to comment on one report that put the number of registered sex offenders nearby at 25 because he said he didn't know how wide an area was being considered.

Haleigh is 3 feet tall with blond hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt.

Donaway said search teams would continue to look for the child through the night.

Local and state authorities and the FBI searched Tuesday for Haleigh in neighbors' homes and vehicles leaving her neighborhood on the St. Johns River.

Anyone with information about the girl is urged to contact the Putnam County Sheriff's Office at (386) 329-0800 or 911.

 

[dismom2]

This is very scary! Especially if the girl was taken out of her bed! You try to watch your kids but then someone can come into your house while you are sleeping and take them. I always keep my doors locked and we have an alarm on our house. You can never be too safe. I pray they find this little girl---alive and well---and catch the monster that took her. Lots of prayers to this family and thier precious little girl! Why are there so many monsters in this world?

 

[Parkers_girl]

Oh dear, I thought they would have found her by now! I really hope she is okay and comes home safe. The scary partis that I first saw the amber alert scrolling at the bottom of the screen while I was watching the Caylee memorial yesterday morning, it gave me goosebumps.

 

[Jynohn]

I don't have a good feeling about this. It seems strange to me that the parents just happened to get up at 3AM and notice the child was missing from her bed. I really hope I'm wrong about this one.

 

[shelly3girls]

I don't have a good feeling about this. It seems strange to me that the parents just happened to get up at 3AM and notice the child was missing from her bed. I really hope I'm wrong about this one.

Our news reported the father had just returned home from work.